大象传媒

OPENING ANNOUNCMENT
大象传媒 Radio Four.听 听It鈥檚 ten past eight.听 Today is St David鈥檚 Day and the first Sunday of Lent. The Bishop of Bangor, Andy John leads a reflection as Sunday Worship marks the centenary of the Church in Wales.听听

PART 1 鈥� Intro: Lent and Light
Bishop Andy
Good morning.听
I鈥檓 standing on a hill overlooking the Menai Straits which separates Anglesey from the Welsh mainland. This turbulent and unpredictable expanse of water provides one of the most iconic views in Wales.听
Directly behind me lies the rugged start of the Ogwen valley and the mountains that make up the Snowdonia massif, a huge range of peaks including Snowdon itself: in Welsh 鈥楽nowdon鈥� is rendered 鈥楨ryri鈥� which might mean 鈥榃elsh highlands鈥� or possibly 鈥榯he abode of eagles鈥�. It鈥檚 a stunning vista. At dawn, the sunlight rises up the mountains until the whole range glistens.听
This lent, we鈥檙e considering our relationship with the created world, a world through which God speaks to us.听

Reading: Genesis 1 1-3 (many voices)In the beginning鈥� the earth was a formless void, and darkness covered the face of the deep... Then God said, 鈥淟et there be light鈥�; and there was light.

Bishop Andy
In the created order, it is light and the energy of light which gives impetus to everything we do.
The 18th century welsh hymnist and poet William Williams Pantycelyn reflected on light鈥檚 transforming nature:

Female Voice听I am waiting through the long night,Waiting for the break of day,Expecting to hear the doors opening,And the chains becoming free:Expecting pure lightIn the darkest depths of night.

Bishop Andy
At this time of lent we remember that Christ himself experienced the created world at its most raw and real when he prepared to be revealed as the light of the world, but in the spiritual darkness of the Judean desert.

MUSIC 1 Forty Days and Forty Nights

PART 2 鈥� Light of St David; Centenary听

Bishop Andy
This year is the centenary of the church in Wales as a province in the Anglican communion. It鈥檚 a landmark birthday which we鈥檙e celebrating in churches and communities across Wales, giving thanks and praise for the fellowship we have with one another. Today, we鈥檒l journey through our communities, hearing some of the diversity of voices, music and expressions of faith across our six dioceses.听
On St. David鈥檚 Day in particular, we鈥檙e reminded of the example of St David who invited his followers not to build dynasties or erect monuments but to live a simple life of faith together; to be the community that brings God鈥檚 light to the world.
In the diocese of St David鈥檚 is the ancient church of Llanfihangel Rhos y corn. Here, on a windy hillside, the early morning light shines on a prayer labyrinth in a clearing in the trees.

Beryl Edwards
This is our quiet garden, part of the quiet garden movement. It鈥檚 set in a hollow beside the church where people have gathered together in prayer over the centuries. The garden is a place of contemplation, and as we walk the labyrinth, even as the wind blows, we are invited to return to the still point at the centre of our being.
God of creation, we pray that your light would illuminate our minds.听God of love, we pray that your joy would lift our hearts.God of mercy, we pray that your care would inspire our actions.

MUSIC 2 Ubi Caritas 鈥� Durufle (St. Davids)

PART 3 鈥� Isaiah; Light for the whole world听

Bishop Andy
At St Edmund鈥檚 church in Crickhowell, the minister is Rev Rana Khan. The community there has been deeply affected by this season鈥檚 floods.

Rev Rana Khan (Crickhowell)听The power of the natural world is sometimes overwhelming. When storms like this come, we鈥檙e reminded so vividly that our responsibility towards creation is a serious one, and that what we each do can affect the whole world.
I had an amazing journey to Wales. It wasn鈥檛 all planned. I trained in Karachi, now I work in Crickhowell; I worked in Lahore and then moved to London. In each and every place, I had a different experience of light 鈥� light that not only helps us to see others, but also to see who we are.
Here in Crickhowell, the work of rebuilding and repairing after the floods has begun. Working together as a community, we see God鈥檚 love in action, even in the most difficult circumstances.

Bishop Andy
In the book of Isaiah, the prophet tells us that the light of God鈥檚 love reaches the whole world. It knows no limits, it shines into every situation.

Reading: Isaiah 49 v 1 鈥� 6 (Rev Rana Khan)
Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away!The Lord called me before I was born,听 while I was in my mother鈥檚 womb he named me. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me;he made me a polished arrow,听 听 in his quiver he hid me away.鈥�.And now the Lord says,鈥�.听 听听鈥淚t is too small a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.鈥�

Bishop Andy
Merciful Lord, your world is so often divided. By religion, by race, by culture, by our own attitude of heart. In this lent time, we pray for the uniting power of your holy peace.

MUSIC 3 For The Healing Of The Nations (St Woolos)

PART 4 鈥� Matthew; Light for the future听

Bishop Andy
It鈥檚 mid-morning at a church in Cardiff. Here, families meet in an old building that鈥檚 slowly being restored. Coffee tables and sofas are scattered with cups, children play, fairy lights twinkle. From a window high in the chancel, morning sunlight penetrates the city streets and illuminates old stone walls.

Will Souter
We are Urban Crofters 鈥� a new church based around four different missional communities meeting in family homes in various parts of Cardiff. We meet for dinner and discussion together each week and aim to provide a warm welcome to anyone and everyone interested in making a journey of discovering faith in Jesus.

Bishop Andy
It may feel like a clich茅 to say that our children are our future. But it is true. And so many of them so evidently have a deep and clearly-articulated sense of moral right. They are keenly aware of the need for justice, and equality of opportunity.
And they are often equally aware of the need for a society free from any form of prejudice rooted in anything which is part of the individual identity, gender, race, origin, religion or orientation of anyone.
But it鈥檚 in relation to the stewardship of creation that our children have perhaps most surprised us. They have demonstrated leadership, on a global scale, which sometimes puts the rest of us to shame. They more than any of us will live in a world in which not only the spiritual but the practical value of the energy of that first created light might just be our salvation.听
Matthew鈥檚 gospel reminds us what a responsibility we have, to ensure the light continues to burn brightly.听

Reading: Matthew 5 13-16 (Children from Urban Crofters)

Eden: 鈥淵ou are the salt of the earth.听
Annie: But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?听
Anya: It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
Judah: 鈥淵ou are the light of the world.听
Anya: A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.听
Joseph: Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.听
Annie: In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Judith Souter We pray:
Christ, be our light!Shine in our hearts.Shine through the darkness.Christ, be our light!Shine in your church gathered today.

MUSIC 4 Longing For Light (Christ Be Our Light) (Llandaff)

PART 5 鈥� Light in the darkness

Bishop Andy
In the hymn, Christ be our Light, Bernadette Farrell focuses on some of the stark causes of the darkness and despair which confront too many people around today鈥檚 world. The scale of their struggle we can sometimes scarcely imagine. Such degrading horrors all-too-quickly appear in and then disappear from the headlines. But they go on existing not only in what we might think of as far-away places, but much, much closer to home, too: hunger, thirst, homelessness, cold, loneliness, rejection.
In the face of such things, we can each be the light that confronts the darkness and brings hope to despair. We can be the welcome that makes a stranger into a friend. We can be the compassion that is there to offer understanding.听
Being that light is the heartbeat of the kingdom communities St. David encouraged us to be, and it鈥檚 a purpose for which our communities should exist.听
Perhaps this is an important reminder to focus on what really matters. Maybe it鈥檚 even something St David foresaw. 鈥淒o the little things鈥� he urged his followers 鈥� because it鈥檚 the little things that add up. When we鈥檙e each diligent in letting our lights shine, then these little lights, brought together, become a great light.
The 18th century poet and hymn-writer William Williams Pantycelyn says:
Female Voice听听It will come, the light white dawnUntil the black cloud flees away,The mist and fog together gathered. Shall together disappear:These are the hoursThat through faith I see appear.
But churches must be honest, particularly when marking a centenary. Sadly, there are times when we seem to be known rather for what we appear to be against. The caricature is - and in every one of those there is usually a grain or more of truth 鈥� 鈥楬ere come the Christians; they must be against something鈥�.听
So we are not always seen for the good which we do, or for the causes which we support or further, or for the justice and truth for which we call. And when this happens, we struggle to fulfil our mission to be a light to the nations.
David Ogden鈥檚 setting in Welsh of the words of St Teresa sums up the action of faith which brings light: Christ has no body now on earth but yours; no hands but yours; no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ must look out on the world.

MUSIC 5 Does Gan Grist Gorff Nawr Dim Ond Ti 鈥� David Ogden (Bangor)

PART 6 鈥� Responses; Light in action
Bishop Andy
Stuart McKerracher is the lay succentor at Bangor Cathedral, and part of the team running the fair price caf茅 in the city.

Stuart:
Here in our caf茅 we serve the people of our city and offer help and hospitality to rough sleepers. We also say morning prayer here, and are often joined by members of our congregations, visitors and students.听

Eli
Through working here over several months, I鈥檝e seen that this place is a welcome oasis to all, regardless of background or circumstances.
God who made the mountains and valleys, rivers and streams, seas and islands, we give thanks for the beauty of the earth, for ancient places, and for new encounters with you.
All: Lord, come and be with us. Hear our prayer.

Stuart
God who brings light in dark places, shine upon us this day. Enable us to share this light in new ways, to speak of you and to do your work in the world. Be light to the nations and illumine all corners of our hearts.

All: Lord, come and be with us. Hear our prayer.

Sam
God who is with us in our suffering, we pray for all those who are struggling today, are lost, alone, scared, or tired. We pray particularly for those who are recovering from storms, and those who are affected by the coronavirus. We pray that they would know your presence with them.

All: Lord, come and be with us. Hear our prayer.

Eli
God who brings new life, we, your church, ask you to send your Holy Spirit to shape our plans, hopes and aspirations as we give thanks for what has been, and as we look to the future. Give us confidence and new hope as we remember that we are your people.
All: Lord, come and be with us. Hear our prayer.

Stuart: God of our journeying, be our companion as we travel through Lent, be with us on our pilgrimage, and bring us at last, to the joys of Easter. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

MUSIC 6 Christ Is The World鈥檚 True Light (Brecon)

PART 7 鈥� Lord鈥檚 Prayer; Conclusion: the joy of light


Bishop Andy
The society of the sacred cross is an enclosed, contemplative order of sisters led today by Mother Katherine. Set in farmland in the hills near Tintern Abbey, their chapel was built in the early 1920鈥檚, just a few years after the Church in Wales became an independent province. Unusually, the chapel is built on a North/South axis, so that the light enters its windows from East and West.
听
Mother Katherine
Rejoicing in the presence of God here among us, let us pray in faith and trust:听
Lord鈥檚 Prayer (Nuns of Ty Mawr convent, Monmouth)
Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name,your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.Forgive us our sinsas we forgive those who sin against us.Lead us not into temptationbut deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power,and the glory are yours now and for ever.Amen.

Bishop Andy
When we work to bring about God鈥檚 kingdom 鈥� through faith, prayer, and action 鈥� there is joy in that moment. And when in this created world 鈥� through love, generosity, and care 鈥� we shine light for one another, there is hope for the future.听
A final verse from poet and hymn writer William Williams Pantycelyn reassures us amidst the storms of life.

Female Voice听
The dark and stormy night shall not persist for long; No one has been chosen to carry the cross for ages:The lovely dawn鈥檚 light over there tells that a fine morning is near.

MUSIC 7 Lord Who In Thy Perfect Wisdom (St. Asaph)

BLESSING 鈥� the light of Wales
SOUND OF WAVES
Bishop Andy
The Bishop of St David鈥檚, Joanna Penberthy, is the 129th successor to St David himself, and the first woman to be made a Bishop in the Church in Wales. She closes our service from a beach at Amroth Castle.

Blessing (Bishop Joanna, St Davids)In this place of thundering waves, where sea meets sky, and glimpses of sunlight gleam amongst dark clouds and speak to us of hope,
May God who makes his light shine on all creation fill us with the energy of his love;听听
May we, led by the example of St David in Wales, be a light to our world;
May we be strengthened together in the spirit of holiness and unity so that we may all come to the full radiance of his glory.
A bendith Duw Hollalluog, y Tad, y Mab a鈥檙 Ysbryd Gl芒n, a fo yn eich plith ac a drigo gyda chwi yn wastad.
And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be with you all, ever more. Amen.

WAVES

CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENT
The Bishop of St Davids, Joanna Penberthy, closing this morning鈥檚 Sunday Worship. Music came from the choirs and musicians of all six Church in Wales cathedrals and members of the Church marked their centenary with the Bishop of Bangor, Andy John. The producer was Dominic Jewel.听
Next week鈥檚 Sunday Worship marks International Women鈥檚 day, live from St. Marys Episcopal Cathedral Glasgow.
And a link to the Live Lent resources can be found on the Sunday Worship home page.